At AIC4NL’s Dutch AI Congress on April 23, 2025, in Utrecht, AiMTT partners Sascha Hoogendoorn-Lanser (TU Delft) and Jeroen Steenbakkers (Argaleo) discussed the impact of AI on mobility. Their key message: AI can make mobility services cheaper and better, but the road to success is not without obstacles.
From real-time traffic predictions and smart crowd management solutions to digital twins supporting decision-making—such applications are already becoming reality thanks to AI. They can significantly facilitate and enhance work in the mobility domain. However, this transformation also presents challenges, Hoogendoorn-Lanser and Steenbakkers argued, particularly regarding the evolving roles and tasks of humans. Key questions arise: How do we maintain human autonomy? Which tasks can be delegated to AI, and which should remain with mobility professionals? How should we train professionals for their new roles? And how can trust in AI systems be built?
The Turnaround: More Than a Technological Shift
The core of the matter is that AI represents not only a technological shift but also a major transformation in human roles and responsibilities. Professionals will increasingly need to demonstrate their added value through collaboration, creativity, and domain knowledge. In this light, AI is not a threat but an opportunity, the speakers emphasized—provided we now invest in developing the necessary knowledge and skills. The Netherlands, already a global leader in mobility research, is well positioned to take the lead in this transformation.
Learning Community: Gaining Hands-On AI Experience
For Hoogendoorn-Lanser and Steenbakkers, investing in knowledge and skills naturally ties back to AiMTT. This learning community is specifically designed to help mobility professionals gain hands-on experience with AI. By developing new tools and learning through practice simultaneously, professionals can adapt to the transformation in roles and tasks as smoothly as possible.
